Hairstyling Former

ABSTRACT

A hairstyling former comprising a ring of elastomeric material disposed within the material of an outer ring of resiliently deformable material. This outer ring comprises two layers of the resiliently deformable material, mutually joined at an outer periphery. The resiliently deformable material is an inelastic polymeric thread, knitted or woven in a manner providing limited stretch.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a hairstyling former and a method of making ahairstyling former.

Shapers for forming a bun in the hair are known. In particular, aso-called doughnut bun shaper comprises nylon mesh rolled into adoughnut shape. In some versions, such a shaper can be formed from anelongate roll of nylon mesh, having a fastener for fastening ends of theroll together to form the shaper into a ring.

The existing doughnut bun shaper requires a support to hold it in place.It has an almost exactly circular perimeter, the configuration of whichis fixed. The shaper has a high density and limited elasticity. Thus,its shape is fixed. This limits the applicability of the shaper. A givenshaper is generally only suitable for one length and type of hair andwill produce only one hairstyle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an aim of the invention to provide a hairstyling former of greaterversatility than known formers.

Accordingly, the invention provides a hairstyling former comprising aring of elastomeric material disposed within the material of a ring ofresiliently deformable material. The latter material includes or is aloosely knitted, or woven, inelastic thread, such as a polymeric thread.

The elasticity of the ring of elastomeric material means that the formercan be used to hold the hair without requiring a separate support.

In one embodiment, the resiliently deformable material is substantiallydisc-shaped, the ring of elastomeric material being located at an innerperiphery of the resiliently deformable material. Two layers of theresiliently deformable material may be mutually joined at an outerperiphery.

The former of the invention thus has a variable shape and an adjustableinner circumference, so that it can be used to hold the hair indifferent ways and produce different styles.

The resiliently deformable material may comprise a knitted or wovenpolymeric mesh. The elastomeric ring can comprise a ring of natural orartificial rubber or polyester-polyurethane copolymer.

The invention also provides a method of making a hairstyling former,comprising the steps of taking a sheet of resiliently deformablematerial, placing a ring of elastomeric material around the sheet ofresiliently deformable material, and folding the resiliently deformablematerial so that the ring of elastomeric material is inside.

The sheet of resiliently deformable material may be substantiallyrectangular. The ring of elastomeric material may be placed around awidth of the sheet of resiliently deformable material at a midpointalong the length thereof, to cinch the resiliently deformable materialat the midpoint.

After insertion into the ring of elastomeric material, halves of theresiliently deformable material may be folded around the ring ofelastomeric material into two superimposed, substantially disc-shapedlayers. These two layers may then be attached, e.g. sewn, together attheir common outer periphery, to form a circumferential seam.Optionally, the resiliently deformable material may then be everted,moving the circumferential seam from the outside thereof to the inside.The radially extending edges of the resiliently deformable material maythen be joined, e.g. sewn, together in each layer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A particular embodiment of the invention will now be described in moredetail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a ring of elastomeric material;

FIG. 2 shows a sheet of resiliently deformable material;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a former formed from the components ofFIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the former of FIG. 3, showing the elastomericring partly exposed; and

FIG. 5 is a side view of the former.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a ring 1 of elastomeric material, for example formed ofnatural or artificial rubber or a polyester-polyurethane copolymer(elastane), or a blend of elastomeric and inelastic fibres. This is, inthis example, essentially a well known hairband, also called a hair tie,hair binder or pony tail holder. In its unstressed state it may have adiameter of about 50 mm.

FIG. 2 shows a rectangular sheet 2 of resiliently deformable material,in this example, a mesh loosely knitted or woven e.g. from polyethyleneor nylon thread. The diameter of this thread is preferably greater than0.1 mm, in particular 0.25 to 0.5 mm. Knitted stitches can range in sizefrom 1 mm to 4 mm, in particular 1.5 mm to 2.5 mm. The sheet can beprovided in different colours, to provide a former of a colour similarto a user's hair. The width of the sheet can be between 75% and 100% ofits length; the length and width are in a ratio of about 6:5 in thisembodiment. The sheet 2 can be provided in different sizes in order tomake respective correspondingly sized hairstyling formers. In oneexample, the sheet measures 180 mm by 150 mm, for a large former.Smaller sheets are also usable for smaller formers.

In order to create the hairstyling former, the elastomeric ring 1 isstretched and placed around the sheet 1, which can be roughly folded orrolled along its length for this purpose. In particular, the ring 1 isplaced around the width of the sheet 2, at a midpoint along the lengthof the sheet.

Next, the halves of the sheet 2 on opposite sides of the ring 1 arefolded around the ring 1 into approximately annular layers that meeteach other. There layers are sewn together at their mutual outercircumference. The material, sewn together in this manner, is thengathered and turned inside out, in order to locate the circumferentialseam 3, shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, between the layers rather than beingexposed. This improves the appearance of the former. Finally the edgeswhich were the long sides of the rectangular sheet and now lie radially,are sewn together, forming a radial seam 4 which completes thesubstantially annular shape of the former.

The finished former is shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. In FIG. 4, a part ofthe elastomeric ring 1 has been exposed to show the location of thering. The former is generally disc shaped, with the elastomeric ring 1at the periphery of a central hole. This ring can be used to hold thehair without requiring additional hairdressing tools or accessories.

In view of the low density material 2, the hairstyling former is easilydeformable into different shapes, but will return to its original shapewhen the load or force is removed. The polymeric thread from which theresilient material 2 is knitted or woven is not elastic by itself inthis example, but the knit or weave of the material can be deformed toprovide some stretch. Thus, the former of the invention can be used inthe manner of a known doughnut bun former to form a conventional hairbun, but alternative hairstyles can also be facilitated. In one mode ofoperation, the former can be folded, to form a smaller bun. Also, bymanipulating the elastomeric ring 1, the former can be used to makeunconventional hairstyles, whether natural, textured or with a fullerappearance. The mesh material 2 conveniently grips the hair. The formerof the invention acts as an invisible tool or accessory. It is easy touse, can cover a large volume of hair, is easy to store and transportand can be made at low cost.

1. A hairstyling former comprising a ring of elastomeric materialdisposed within the material of an outer ring of resiliently deformablematerial; said outer ring comprising two layers of the resilientlydeformable material, mutually joined at an outer periphery; theresiliently deformable material comprising an inelastic polymericthread, knitted or woven in a manner providing stretch.
 2. A hairstylingformer according to claim 1, wherein said thread is of polyethylene. 3.A hairstyling former according to claim 2, wherein the resilientlydeformable material is substantially disc-shaped, the ring ofelastomeric material being located at an inner periphery of theresiliently deformable material.
 4. A hairstyling former according toclaim 3, wherein the elastomeric ring comprises a ring of natural orartificial rubber or polyester-polyurethane copolymer.
 5. A method ofmaking a hairstyling former, comprising the steps of taking a sheet ofresiliently deformable material, knitted or woven of inelastic polymericthread, placing a ring of elastomeric material around the sheet ofresiliently deformable material, and folding the resiliently deformablematerial so that the ring of elastomeric material is inside.
 6. A methodaccording to claim 5, wherein the sheet of resiliently deformablematerial is substantially rectangular.
 7. A method according to claim 6,wherein the ring of elastomeric material is placed around a width of thesheet of resiliently deformable material at a midpoint along the lengththereof, to cinch the resiliently deformable material at the midpoint.8. A method according to claim 7, wherein folding of the resilientlydeformable material comprises folding halves of the resilientlydeformable material around the ring of elastomeric material into twosuperimposed, substantially disc-shaped layers.
 9. A method according toclaim 8, wherein after the folding step, the two layers are attachedtogether at their common outer periphery, to form a circumferentialseam.
 10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the attachment at theouter periphery is by sewing.
 11. A method according to claim 10,wherein after the attachment at the outer periphery, the resilientlydeformable material is everted, moving the circumferential seam from theoutside thereof to the inside.
 12. A method according to claim 11,wherein in each layer, radially extending edges of the resilientlydeformable material are attached together.
 13. A method according toclaim 12, wherein the attachment of the radially extending edges is bysewing.
 14. A method according to claim 5, wherein folding of theresiliently deformable material comprises folding halves of theresiliently deformable material around the ring of elastomeric materialinto two superimposed, substantially disc-shaped layers.
 15. A methodaccording to claim 14, wherein after the folding step, the two layersare attached together at their common outer periphery, to form acircumferential seam.
 16. A method according to claim 15, wherein theattachment at the outer periphery is by sewing.
 17. A method accordingto claim 15, wherein after the attachment at the outer periphery, theresiliently deformable material is everted, moving the circumferentialseam from the outside thereof to the inside.
 18. A method according toclaim 14, wherein in each layer, radially extending edges of theresiliently deformable material are attached together.
 19. A hairstylingformer according to claim 1, wherein the resiliently deformable materialis substantially disc-shaped, the ring of elastomeric material beinglocated at an inner periphery of the resiliently deformable material.20. A hairstyling former according to claim 1, wherein the elastomericring comprises a ring of natural or artificial rubber orpolyester-polyurethane copolymer.